Transplant patient denied treatment due to debt

Twenty-five year old Luisa Maria Figaris Almonte, who underwent a liver transplant at the Plaza de la Salud hospital almost two years ago, says she is now suffering from possible organ rejection.

However, even though her liver is being possibly rejected she says that the hospital is refusing to treat her until she finishes paying for the transplant. She claims that the hospital has harassed her with phone calls and threatened to have her home repossessed if she does not pay.

Figaris Almonte underwent the transplant on 12 August 2014 in Plaza de la Salud. Following the operation she had to return twice due to rejection issues and she still owes RD$65,000. She says even though she is poor she has never said she would not pay but due to the high cost of her anti-rejection drugs, which are not covered by the Public Health system, she has not yet been able to pay off her debts.

Update: Plaza de la Salud hospital denies refusing treatment

The Plaza de la Salud hospital (HGPS) says that it has never refused treatment to any patient, let alone patients who attend the organ and tissue transplant center.

Following a complaint yesterday, Tuesday 29 March 2016 from a woman who had a liver transplant and now claims that the hospital will no longer help her as she owes RD$65,000, HGPS confirmed that the transplant service is open to everyone regardless of social class, even though it is very expensive.

The hospital confirmed that most of the costs of transplants are covered by the hospital board, especially in the case of most of their patients who cannot afford to cover the full sum. However, the hospital board did admit that due to the high cost of maintaining the transplant center, it is in danger as it is unsustainable financially.

Hospital spokeswoman Dashira Martinez said that after investigating this particular case, and the patient’s claims that she had received calls threatening her for the payment, that that was part of the established procedure as the patient had to take responsibility for the expenses of their procedure, but that she was never denied medical treatment.

HGPS went on to say it was normal procedure for a patient to cover the costs of any treatment and to sign an agreement scheduling the payments.

Transplant patient Luisa Maria Figari Almonte, 25, complained that the hospital threatened to embargo her home in Monte Plata to collect the debt that she was unable to pay due to the high cost of anti rejection drugs and that she had now been blocked from receiving treatment from the hospital.